Sen. Orrin Hatch pleaded with senators and President Trump on Thursday to end the partisan fighting that has led to fights in the upper chamber this week, and said both parties need to work to “get out of this rut we are in right now.”
“Look, there is no excuse for these two-bit fights on the floor,” Hatch said in remarks he delivered after being recognized for being the longest-serving Republican senator.
The Utah Republican was praised by both Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. After Hatch spoke, Schumer said he shares Hatch’s goal, but then launched into an attack on President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who Democrats hope to block.
Hatch returned to the floor after Schumer spoke and criticized the both Senate and President Trump, whose tweets have prompted an avalanche of Democratic counterattacks.
“I am concerned about this body, and how it’s going,” Hatch said. “I am also concerned about the president. I wish he would chose his words more carefully. On the other hand I find it refreshing. He doesn’t take any guff from anybody.”
Hatch pointed out Trump “has never held one of these offices … he’s never been a politician and never done all the things that such a background would be of assistance to him.”
Hatch called Trump “a very, very bright man,” and said the nation is lucky to have a private-sector businessman in the White House who is “willing to take the criticisms and fight back sometimes.” He added, “let’s give this president a chance and above all, let’s give him his Cabinet.”
Democrats, he said, “are treating this president in a very belligerent and awful way,” and should let him make some verbal mistakes “from time to time, even though we all wish he wouldn’t.”
Hatch was elected to the Senate in 1976 and has noted in floor speeches during the past few years that decorum in the chamber has broken down and evolved into bitter fighting. McConnell noted that Hatch, who was friends with the late and liberal Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, “simply learned the art of disagreeing, sometimes strongly, without being disagreeable.”
Hatch gave a tribute to Kennedy, noting that the two collaborated closely on many bills that became law despite their political differences.
“He had to learn to compromise to get some of this work done and so did I,” Hatch said. “I’d like to see more of that around here. I’d like to see all of us working together. A good way to do that would be to give the president he needs and wants.”
Schumer, who is leading the Democrats to slow-walk Trump’s nominees, called Hatch “a terrific guy, a decent man, a caring man, he’s an honorable man,” and said Hatch “has shown tremendous independence on many occasions.”
Hatch reciprocated by saying Schumer “could become one of the great leaders,” in the Senate. “He’s a good man. We all know that. Let’s get rid of some of the picayune fights around here and let’s start working together.” He also said Schumer and McConnell “can help us to save this country at a time when it really needs saving. If these two gentlemen can get together … we could turn this country around.”
